© 2012 McGraw-Hill Education (Asia) Pricing Products and Services Appendix A

© 2012 McGraw-Hill Education (Asia)

Pricing Products and Services

Appendix A

McGraw-Hill Education (Asia) Garrison, Noreen, Brewer, Cheng & Yuen Slide 2

Learning Objective 1

Compute the profit-Compute the profit-maximizing price of a maximizing price of a

product or service using product or service using the price elasticity of the price elasticity of

demands and variable demands and variable cost.cost.


The Economist’s Approach to Pricing

Elasticity of DemandElasticity of DemandElasticity of DemandElasticity of Demand

The price elasticity of demand measures the degree to which the unit sales of a product or service are

affected by a change in unit price.

ChangeChangeinin

PricePrice

ChangeChangeinin

PricePriceversusversusversusversus

ChangeChangein Unitin UnitSalesSales

ChangeChangein Unitin UnitSalesSales


Price Elasticity of Demand

Demand for a product is inelastic if a change in price has little effect on the

number of units sold.

ExampleExampleThe demand for designer The demand for designer perfumes sold at cosmetic perfumes sold at cosmetic

counters in department counters in department stores is relatively inelastic.stores is relatively inelastic.

ExampleExampleThe demand for designer The demand for designer perfumes sold at cosmetic perfumes sold at cosmetic

counters in department counters in department stores is relatively inelastic.stores is relatively inelastic.



Demand for a product is elastic if a change in price has a substantial effect on

the number of units sold.

ExampleExampleThe demand for gasoline is The demand for gasoline is

relatively elastic because if a relatively elastic because if a gas station raises its price, gas station raises its price,

unit sales will drop as unit sales will drop as customers seek lower prices customers seek lower prices

elsewhere.elsewhere.

ExampleExampleThe demand for gasoline is The demand for gasoline is

relatively elastic because if a relatively elastic because if a gas station raises its price, gas station raises its price,

unit sales will drop as unit sales will drop as customers seek lower prices customers seek lower prices

elsewhere.elsewhere.



As a manager, you should set higher (lower) markups over cost when

demand is inelastic (elastic)



Єd =ln(1 + % change in quantity sold)

ln(1 + % change in price)

Natural log functionNatural log functionNatural log functionNatural log functionPrice elasticity of demandPrice elasticity of demandPrice elasticity of demandPrice elasticity of demand

I can estimate the price elasticity of demand for a

product or service using the above formula.



Suppose the managers of Nature’s Garden believe that every 10 percent increase in the selling price of its

apple-almond shampoo will result in a 15 percent decrease in the number of bottles of shampoo sold.

Let’s calculate the price elasticity of demand.

For its strawberry glycerin soap, managers of Nature’s Garden believe that the company will experience a 20

percent decrease in unit sales if its price is increased by 10 percent.

Suppose the managers of Nature’s Garden believe that every 10 percent increase in the selling price of its

apple-almond shampoo will result in a 15 percent decrease in the number of bottles of shampoo sold.

Let’s calculate the price elasticity of demand.

For its strawberry glycerin soap, managers of Nature’s Garden believe that the company will experience a 20

percent decrease in unit sales if its price is increased by 10 percent.





Єd =ln(1 + (-0.15))ln(1 + (0.10))

Єd =ln(0.85)ln(1.10) = -1.71-1.71

For Nature’s Garden apple-almond shampoo.





Єd =ln(1 + (-0.20))ln(1 + (0.10))

Єd =ln(0.80)ln(1.10) = -2.34-2.34

For Nature’s Garden strawberry glycerin soap.



The price elasticity of demand for the strawberry glycerin soap is larger, in absolute value, than the apple-almond shampoo. This

indicates that the demand for strawberry glycerin soap is more elastic than the demand

for apple-almond shampoo.

The price elasticity of demand for the strawberry glycerin soap is larger, in absolute value, than the apple-almond shampoo. This

indicates that the demand for strawberry glycerin soap is more elastic than the demand

for apple-almond shampoo.


The Profit-Maximizing Price

-1Profit-maximizingmarkup on

variable cost 1 + Єd

=

Under certain conditions, the profit-maximizing price can be determined using the following formula:

Using the above markup, the selling price would be set using the formula:

Profit-maximizingprice

-1

1 + Єd

Variable

cost perunit

= 1 + ×



Let’s determine the profit-maximizing price for the apple-almond shampoo sold by Nature’s Garden.

The shampoo has a variable cost per unit of $2.00.

Let’s determine the profit-maximizing price for the apple-almond shampoo sold by Nature’s Garden.

The shampoo has a variable cost per unit of $2.00.

Price elasticity of demand = -1.71

Profit-maximizingmarkup

on variable cost

-1.71

-1.71 +1 - 1= = 1.41 or 141%

Variable cost per unit 2.00$ Markup ($2.00 × 141%) 2.82 Profit-maximizing price 4.82$



Now let’s turn to the profit-maximizing price for the strawberry glycerin soap sold by Nature’s Garden.

The soap has a variable cost per unit of $0.40.

Now let’s turn to the profit-maximizing price for the strawberry glycerin soap sold by Nature’s Garden.

The soap has a variable cost per unit of $0.40.

Price elasticity of demand = -2.34

Profit-maximizingmarkup

on variable cost

-2.34

-2.34 +1 - 1= = 0.75 or 75%

Variable cost per unit 0.40$ Markup ($0.40 × 75%) 0.30 Profit-maximizing price 0.70$



The 75 percent markup for the strawberry The 75 percent markup for the strawberry glycerin soap is glycerin soap is lowerlower than the 141 percent than the 141 percent

markup for the apple-almond shampoo. This markup for the apple-almond shampoo. This is because the demand for strawberry glycerin is because the demand for strawberry glycerin

soap is soap is more elasticmore elastic than the demand for than the demand for apple-almond shampoo.apple-almond shampoo.

The 75 percent markup for the strawberry The 75 percent markup for the strawberry glycerin soap is glycerin soap is lowerlower than the 141 percent than the 141 percent

markup for the apple-almond shampoo. This markup for the apple-almond shampoo. This is because the demand for strawberry glycerin is because the demand for strawberry glycerin

soap is soap is more elasticmore elastic than the demand for than the demand for apple-almond shampoo.apple-almond shampoo.



This graph depicts how the profit-maximizing markup is generally affected by how sensitive unit sales are to price.

500%

450%

400%

350%

300%

250%

200%

150%

100%

50%

0%10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Percent decrease in unit salesdue to a 10% increase in price

Op

tim

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arku

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n v

aria

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co

st



Nature’s Garden is currently selling 200,000 bars of strawberry glycerin soap per year at the price

of $0.60 a bar. If the change in price has no effect on the company’s fixed costs or on other

products, let’s determine the effect on contribution margin of increasing the price by 10 percent.



Present Price Higher PriceSales price 0.60$ 0.66$ †Units sales 200,000 160,000 ‡

Sales 120,000$ 105,600$ Variable cost 80,000 64,000 Contribution margin 40,000$ 41,600$

† $0.60 + (0.10 × $0.60) = $0.66‡ 200,000 - (0.20 × 200,000) = 160,000

Contribution margin will increase by $1,600.



Compute the selling Compute the selling price of a product price of a product

using the absorption using the absorption costing approach.costing approach.


The Cost Base

Under the absorption approach to cost-plus pricing, the cost base is the absorption costing unit product cost rather than the variable cost.

The cost base includes direct materials, direct labor, and variable and fixed manufacturing

overhead.


Setting a Target Selling Price

Here is information provided by the management of Ritter Company.

Per Unit TotalDirect materials 6$ Direct labor 4 Variable manufacturing overhead 3 Fixed manufacturing overhead 70,000$ Variable S & A expenses 2 Fixed S & A expenses 60,000

Assuming Ritter will produce and sell 10,000 Assuming Ritter will produce and sell 10,000 units of the new product, and that Ritter typically units of the new product, and that Ritter typically uses a uses a 50%50% markup percentage, let’s determine markup percentage, let’s determine

the unit product cost.the unit product cost.

Assuming Ritter will produce and sell 10,000 Assuming Ritter will produce and sell 10,000 units of the new product, and that Ritter typically units of the new product, and that Ritter typically uses a uses a 50%50% markup percentage, let’s determine markup percentage, let’s determine

the unit product cost.the unit product cost.



Per UnitDirect materials 6$ Direct labor 4 Variable manufacturing overhead 3 Fixed manufacturing overhead 7 Unit product cost 20$

($70,000 ÷ 10,000 units = $7 per unit)

Ritter has a policy of marking up unit product costs by 50%. Let’s calculate the target selling price.

The first step in the absorption costing approach to cost-plus pricing is to compute the unit product cost.

Helen Roybark

Slide A-22 NotesLast sentence: Changed the words "new products" to read "a new product,".



Per UnitDirect materials 6$ Direct labor 4 Variable manufacturing overhead 3 Fixed manufacturing overhead 7 Unit product cost 20$ 50% markup 10 Target selling price 30$

The second step is to calculate the target selling price ($30) by assigning the appropriate markup

($10) to the unit product cost ($20).


Determining the Markup Percentage

Markup %on absorption

cost

(Required ROI × Investment) + S & A expensesUnit sales × Unit product cost=

A markup percentage can be based on an industry “rule of thumb,” company tradition, or it can be explicitly calculated.

The equation for calculating the markup percentage on absorption cost is shown below.

The markup must be high enough to cover S & A expenses and to provide an adequate return on investment.



Let’s assume that Ritter must invest $100,000 in the Let’s assume that Ritter must invest $100,000 in the product and market 10,000 units of product each product and market 10,000 units of product each

year. The company requires a 20% ROI on all year. The company requires a 20% ROI on all investments. Let’s determine Ritter’s markup investments. Let’s determine Ritter’s markup

percentage on absorption cost.percentage on absorption cost.

Let’s assume that Ritter must invest $100,000 in the Let’s assume that Ritter must invest $100,000 in the product and market 10,000 units of product each product and market 10,000 units of product each

year. The company requires a 20% ROI on all year. The company requires a 20% ROI on all investments. Let’s determine Ritter’s markup investments. Let’s determine Ritter’s markup

percentage on absorption cost.percentage on absorption cost.




cost

(20% × $100,000) + ($2 × 10,000 + $60,000)10,000 × $20

=

Total fixed S & ATotal fixed S & ATotal fixed S & ATotal fixed S & AVariable S & A per unitVariable S & A per unitVariable S & A per unitVariable S & A per unit


cost= ($20,000 + $80,000)

$200,000 = 50%50%


Problems with the Absorption Costing Approach

The absorption costing approach essentially assumes that customers need the forecasted unit

sales and will pay whatever price the company decides to charge. This is flawed logic simply

because customers have a choice.



Let’s assume that Ritter sells only 7,000 units at $30 per unit, instead of the forecasted 10,000

units. Here is the income statement.

Sales (7,000 units × $30) 210,000$ Cost of goods sold (7,000 units × $23) 161,000 Gross margin 49,000 SG&A expenses 74,000 Net operating loss (25,000)$

(25,000)$ 100,000$

-25%=

RITTER COMPANYIncome Statement

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

ROI =



Sales (7,000 units × $30) 210,000$ Cost of goods sold (7,000 units × $23) 161,000 Gross margin 49,000 SG&A expenses 74,000 Net operating loss (25,000)$

(25,000)$ 100,000$

-25%=

RITTER COMPANYIncome Statement

For the Year Ended December 31, 2008

ROI =

Let’s assume that Ritter sells only 7,000 units at $30 per unit, instead of the forecasted 10,000

units. Here is the income statement.

Absorption costing approach to pricing is a safeAbsorption costing approach to pricing is a safeapproach only if customers choose to buy atapproach only if customers choose to buy atleast as many units as managers forecastedleast as many units as managers forecasted

they would buy.they would buy.

Absorption costing approach to pricing is a safeAbsorption costing approach to pricing is a safeapproach only if customers choose to buy atapproach only if customers choose to buy atleast as many units as managers forecastedleast as many units as managers forecasted

they would buy.they would buy.



Compute the target Compute the target cost for a new cost for a new

product or service.product or service.


Target Costing

Target costing is the process of determining the maximum allowable cost for a new product and then

developing a prototype that can be made for that maximum target cost figure. The equation for

determining a target price is shown below:

Target cost = Anticipated selling price – Desired profitTarget cost = Anticipated selling price – Desired profitTarget cost = Anticipated selling price – Desired profitTarget cost = Anticipated selling price – Desired profit

Once the target cost is determined, the product development team is given the responsibility of designing the product

so that it can be made for no more than the target cost.


Reasons for Using Target Costing

Two characteristics of prices and product costs include:

1. The market (i.e., supply and demand) determines price.

2. Most of the cost of a product is determined in the design stage.



Target costing was developed in recognition Target costing was developed in recognition of the two characteristics summarized on of the two characteristics summarized on

the previous screen. the previous screen.

Target costing begins the product development Target costing begins the product development process by recognizing and responding to process by recognizing and responding to existing market prices.existing market prices. Other approaches Other approaches allow engineers to design products without allow engineers to design products without

considering market prices.considering market prices.

Target costing was developed in recognition Target costing was developed in recognition of the two characteristics summarized on of the two characteristics summarized on

the previous screen. the previous screen.

Target costing begins the product development Target costing begins the product development process by recognizing and responding to process by recognizing and responding to existing market prices.existing market prices. Other approaches Other approaches allow engineers to design products without allow engineers to design products without

considering market prices.considering market prices.



Target costing focuses a company’s cost reduction efforts in the product design stage of production.

Other approaches attempt to squeeze costs out of the manufacturing process after they come to the realization that the cost of a manufactured

product does not bear a profitable relationship to the existing market price.


Target Costing

Handy Appliance feels there is a niche for a hand mixer with special features. The

marketing department believes that a price of $30 would be about right and that about

40,000 mixers could be sold. An investment of $2 million is required to gear up for

production. The company requires a 15% ROI on invested funds.

Let’s see how we determine the target cost.

Handy Appliance feels there is a niche for a hand mixer with special features. The

marketing department believes that a price of $30 would be about right and that about

40,000 mixers could be sold. An investment of $2 million is required to gear up for

production. The company requires a 15% ROI on invested funds.

Let’s see how we determine the target cost.


Target Costing

Projected sales (40,000 units × $30) 1,200,000$ Desired profit ($2,000,000 × 15%) 300,000 Target cost for 40,000 mixers 900,000$

Target cost per mixer ($900,000 ÷ 40,000) 22.50$

Each functional area within Handy Appliance would be responsible for keeping its actual costs

within the target established for that area.


End of Appendix A

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© 2012 McGraw-Hill Education (Asia) Pricing Products and Services Appendix A